Combination brush and scraper

ABSTRACT

A combination brush and scraper, particularly suited for cleaning toilet bowls, comprising an elongated body having a specially shaped scraper at the end remote from the handle and including a region of bristles extending back from the scraper to about the center of the body. At this point, a generally C-shaped array of bristles is provided for engaging the generally C-shaped upper rim of a toilet bowl.

United States Patent Geselletalv 15/210X Zuenkeler t 15/1 13 Martin 15/111 Swopeetal.... 15/16OX Horne l5/104.2 X Glanvillet a1.. lS/l88 Gunderson.... 15/111 Vallis H 401/22 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner- Leon G. Machlin Attorney--Robert A. Green ABSTRACT: A combination brush and scraper, particularly suited for cleaning toilet bowls, comprising an elongated body having a specially shaped scraper at the end remote from the handle and including a region of bristles extending back from the scraper to about the center of the body. At this point, a generally C-shaped array of bristles is provided for engaging the generally C-shaped upper rim of a toilet bowl.

PATENTEU AUG] 7 an ||m Thi y muff SAMUEL S. CHE/TEN ATTORNEY COMBINATION BRUSH AND SCRAPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A wide variety of brushes are known in the prior art; however, these brushes are not suitable for all types of cleaning operations, particularly for cleaning toilet bowls. Most brushes include only bristles as the cleaning member, and bristles are inadequate, for the most part, for removing longstanding dirt or solids that can cling barnaclelike to the inside walls, particularly relatively inaccessible walls, of toilet bowls.

Some cleaning devices are known which include bristles and an auxiliary element in the form of a wiper, sponge, or squeegee. These devices are also not completely satisfactory because sponges are not sufficiently rigid and known wipers or squeegees tend to rub adhered solids or dirt into a surface, rather than away from a surface.

Various examples of brushes are found in the prior art; however, in general, these brushes are not completely effective for cleaning fixtures such as toilet bowls.

In addition, prior art devices are not constructed so that they can be used easily with all types of fixtures and all portions thereof. For example, the upper rim of a toilet is generally C-shaped, and the lower surface thereof and the area immediately below it are out of sight and relatively inaccessible to presently available brushes. Thus, this portion of a toilet bowl tends not to be cleaned and dirt accumulates thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention and an illustration of a modification of a portion thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the leading end of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view looking into the leading end of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the leading end of the apparatus of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the invention and a portion of a toilet bowl which it is particularly suited to clean.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A combination scraper brush embodying the invention includes a generally elongated body which may be of metal, plastic, wood, or a combination of any of these materials. The body includes a suitably shaped handle at one end, a center portion 40, and a leading portion 50. The leading portion 50 which comprises the operating portion of the device is of relatively large diameter along its length, and it may taper from about 2 to about 1 V2 inches at its leading end to which is secured a scraper-plow element 60. Portions 30 and may or may not be of smaller diameter than portion as shown.

The scraper-plow element has top and bottom large-area convex surfaces and which have front edges 71 and 81, left side edges 72 and 82, and right side edges 73 and 83. The top and bottom surfaces are oriented at an angle to each other so that they are relatively widely spaced at their rear edges and relatively closely spaced at their front edges 71 and 81 so that the scraper tapers to a relatively thin member at its leading edge. The scraper 60 includes a concave front connecting wall between the front edges 71 and 81 of the top and bottom surfaces 70 and 80, a left side concave connecting wall between the left side edges 72 and 82 of the top and bottom surfaces, and a right side concave connecting wall between the right side edges of the top and bottom surfaces. Thus, the scraper includes two relatively sharp scraping edges 71 and 81 at its leading end, with the front concave connecting wall 90 serving as a plow, and it also includes two relatively sharp side-scraping edges 72, 82 73 and 83. The curvature of the top and bottom surfaces 70 and 80 also permits the scraper to accommodate the curved surfaces usually found in toilet bowls and other similar fixtures.

Rearwardly of the scraper-plow element 60, the entire body portion 50 is provided with bristles which extend more or less radially from the body. It is desirable to havea relatively large diameter bristle portion, for example about 4 inches in diameter. In the present invention, this is achieved with a body diameter of about 2 inches and a bristle length of about 1 inch. This permits the use of bristles which are relatively short and thus quite stiff and rigid. The bristle area extends perhaps 5 or 6 inches along the body from the scraper 60, and the primary bristles lead .to a generally C-shaped bristle area 130. This bristle area includes a generally concave annular portion 131 between body portions 40 and 50 and an annular ledge 132 which projects laterally from the body. The portion 131 and the annular ledge 132 provide a C-shaped surface for supporting the C-shaped array of bristles 120. The ledge 132 with bristles may project laterally any suitable distance from the body of the scraper-brush. For example, it may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main bristle area on body portion 50, or it may have a greater diameter as represented in dash lines in FIG. 1.

The C-shaped area of bristles is intended and shaped to enclose and facilitate cleaning of all portions of the generally C- shaped upper rim portion of a toilet bowl which includes a top surface 150, a side surface 160, a bottom surface 170, and a surface 180 which is immediately adjacent to bottom surface 170.

The apparatus of the invention can be used in many different ways. For example, the scraper can be used by way of its front edges or its side edges to effectively remove material adhered to the wall of a fixture, and the bristles along the body rearwardly of the scraper can be used after the scraper is used or simultaneously. In addition, the C-shaped bristle area can be coupled directly to the upper rim of a toilet bowl which can be cleaned thereby quickly and easily. This mechanical coupling permits a type of guide or clamping action in manipulating the brush. In addition, it can be seen that all surfaces of the upper rim, in particular, the bottom surface of the upper rim of the toilet bowl and the adjacent surface are accessible to apparatus 10 and can be cleaned with ease. Normally, these surfaces cannot be seen and are relatively inaccessible and are thus neglected by all but the most diligent workmen.

What I claim is:

1. A combination plowlike scraper and brush comprising a generally elongated body of relatively large diameter,

a handle at one end of said body,

a generally flat, tapered plowlike scraper member at the other, front end of said body,

said scraper having relatively large-area convex top and bottom surfaces and a concave leading operating front surface, and

a first tubular group of bristles secured to said body and extending radially therefrom along a portion of said body rearwardly of said scraper member.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said top and bottom surfaces have front edges and left and right side edges and including concave connecting walls between the left side edges and between the right side edges of said top and bottom surfaces.

3. A combination scraper-brush as defined in claim 1 wherein said large-area, convex top and bottom surfaces are oriented at an angle to each other so that the scraper is relatively wide at its rear end which is adjacent to said body and it is narrower at its front leading end, a concave connecting wall between said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces have relatively sharp leading scraping edges, and first and second concave connecting sidewalls between the adjacent side edges of said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces also have relatively sharp side edges.

4. A combination plowlike scraper and brush comprising a generally elongated body of relatively large diameter,

a handle at one end of said body,

a plowlike scraper member at the other, front end of said body,

a first group of bristles secured to said body and extending radially therefrom along a portion of said body rearwardly of said scraper member, and

a C-shaped array of bristles positioned adjacent to said first group of bristles and adapted to engage the C-shaped upper rim of a toilet bowl,

the combination of said C-shaped area of bristles with said C-shaped bowl rim serving as a mechanical coupling to guide the brush, said C-shaped area of bristles also serving to clean all surfaces of said bowl rim, particularly the relatively inaccessible lower surface of said rim and the area immediately adjacent to and below said lower surface.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said scraper has relatively large-area convex top and bottom surfaces and concave leading scraper surface.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said scraper is tapered from its relatively-wide rear end where it is connected to said body to a relatively narrow front end remote from said body.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said top and bottom surfaces have front edges and left and right side edges and including concave connecting walls between the front edges, between the left side edges, and between the right side edges of said top and bottom surfaces.

8. A combination plowlike scraper and brush as defined in claim 4 wherein said scraper has relatively largearea, convex top and bottom surfaces which are oriented at an angle to each other so that the scraper is relatively wide at its rear end which is adjacent to said body and it is relatively narrow at its front leading end, a concave connecting wall between said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces have relatively sharp leading scraping edges, and first and second concave connecting sidewalls between the adjacent side of said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces also have relatively sharp side edges. 

1. A combination plowlike scraper and brush comprising a generally elongated body of relatively large diameter, a handle at one end of said body, a generally flat, tapered plowlike scraper member at the other, front end of said body, said scraper having relatively large-area convex top and bottom surfaces and a concave leading operating front surface, and a first tubular group of bristles secured to said body and extending radially therefrom along a portion of said body rearwardly of said Scraper member.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said top and bottom surfaces have front edges and left and right side edges and including concave connecting walls between the left side edges and between the right side edges of said top and bottom surfaces.
 3. A combination scraper-brush as defined in claim 1 wherein said large-area, convex top and bottom surfaces are oriented at an angle to each other so that the scraper is relatively wide at its rear end which is adjacent to said body and it is narrower at its front leading end, a concave connecting wall between said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces have relatively sharp leading scraping edges, and first and second concave connecting sidewalls between the adjacent side edges of said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces also have relatively sharp side edges.
 4. A combination plowlike scraper and brush comprising a generally elongated body of relatively large diameter, a handle at one end of said body, a plowlike scraper member at the other, front end of said body, a first group of bristles secured to said body and extending radially therefrom along a portion of said body rearwardly of said scraper member, and a C-shaped array of bristles positioned adjacent to said first group of bristles and adapted to engage the C-shaped upper rim of a toilet bowl, the combination of said C-shaped area of bristles with said C-shaped bowl rim serving as a mechanical coupling to guide the brush, said C-shaped area of bristles also serving to clean all surfaces of said bowl rim, particularly the relatively inaccessible lower surface of said rim and the area immediately adjacent to and below said lower surface.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said scraper has relatively large-area convex top and bottom surfaces and concave leading scraper surface.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said scraper is tapered from its relatively wide rear end where it is connected to said body to a relatively narrow front end remote from said body.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said top and bottom surfaces have front edges and left and right side edges and including concave connecting walls between the front edges, between the left side edges, and between the right side edges of said top and bottom surfaces.
 8. A combination plowlike scraper and brush as defined in claim 4 wherein said scraper has relatively large-area, convex top and bottom surfaces which are oriented at an angle to each other so that the scraper is relatively wide at its rear end which is adjacent to said body and it is relatively narrow at its front leading end, a concave connecting wall between said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces have relatively sharp leading scraping edges, and first and second concave connecting sidewalls between the adjacent side of said top and bottom surfaces so that said top and bottom surfaces also have relatively sharp side edges. 